Live WA rain updates: Flooding map, landslides, closed freeways, rescues, detours & more
The worst of this week’s rainfall in northwest Washington has thankfully come and gone, but the dreary weather is still far from over.
Although the “atmospheric river” that’s dropped over 5 inches of rain in some places around Puget Sound has moved south, typical dreary December rain will remain in western Washington for the rest of the week.
Sea-Tac and Olympia Airports recorded daily rainfall records on Tuesday, breaking records that have stood since 1970, according to the National Weather Service.
The records indicate the torrent of rainfall that has caused, and will continue to cause, flooding along roadways and rivers, mountain pass landslides and other dangers to Washingtonians in coming days.
Here’s everything you need to know about travel conditions in Washington state as of Wednesday afternoon:
Which WA roads are closed due to weather?
The Washington State Department of Transportation is the primary source of information for road closures in the Evergreen State. Before heading out onto the roads, especially over the mountain passes, travelers can check on multiple WSDOT resources:
As of Wednesday afternoon, only one road was completely closed due to weather conditions. State Route 410 between mileposts 57 and 74.5 in the Chinook Pass in both directions because of adverse road conditions.
Those traveling through the mountain passes can also get specific mountain pass reports through WSDOT. The department has travel information and weather conditions for all 16 of Washington’s passes, including which highways are closed for the season, such as State Route 123 through Cayuse Pass and State Route 20 along the North Cascade Highway.
Which Washington rivers are still flooding?
The National Weather Service in Seattle keeps track of river flooding throughout western Washington. The Weather Service posted on social media Wednesday morning that lingering flooding remains in the area, but rivers are receding, and nowhere in the state is in a major flood stage. You can view river observations across the United States using the Weather Service’s flooding map.
As of midday on Dec. 6, the only rivers and locations experiencing minor flooding in the south Puget Sound region were:
Chehalis River near Grand Mound
Newaukum River near Chehalis
Skokomish River near Potlach
How to call for a water rescue
Flooding along the Columbia River in southwest Washington near Rosburg resulted in five people needing rescuing by the U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday. Four people were trapped in a home surrounded by four feet of water, while another individual nearby was trapped on top of a truck.
The Coast Guard is responsible for water rescues, but if you or someone else needs a water rescue, the Coast Guard recommends you call 911, which will then get a rescue team out.
Current landslides in western Washington
Washington isn’t unfamiliar with landslides. In fact, the Evergreen state is home to some of the most landslide-prone counties in the country. The 2014 Oso landslide killed 8 people. The danger of falling rocks is often present on the roads frequented between eastern and western Washington, such as SR 20, one of the “most feared” highways in America.
The most common type of landslide in Washington are shallow landslides. They typically occur in western Washington during the winter and in eastern Washington during the summer months.
According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, hundreds of landslides happen yearly in Washington due to heavy rainfall, earthquakes, water-level changes, human activity, and geology.
With some areas around Puget Sound getting over 5 inches of rain due to the atmospheric river, landslides were inevitable. Over five days, six landslides were reported by the Department of Natural Resources.
The landslides occurred in the following areas:
Dec. 2: Near Lake Crescent
Dec. 4: Lilliwaup
Dec. 4: Northeast of Morton near the Nisqually River
Dec. 5: Kelso
Dec. 5: Burke-Gilman Trail, Seattle
Dec. 5: Colonial Creek Campground in Whatcom County
To see a map of recently reported landslides in Washington, visit this WADNR website.
Amtrak closures & refunds
Amtrak rides between Portland and Seattle were canceled yesterday for 48 hours due to a landslide just north of Vancouver, in southern Washington state near the Oregon border.
Passenger train ride services between Portland and Seattle have been canceled through 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7 due to the 48-hour moratorium that automatically goes into effect after a landslide covers the railroad tracks, according to Washington State Department of Transportation communications manager, Janet Matkin.
Amtrak is offering bus rides as an alternative mode of transportation for passengers affected by the moratorium. Train rides between Portland and Seattle are scheduled to resume after 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 7 unless there’s another landslide, Matkin said.
As of midday on Dec. 7, passenger train rides between Everett and Bellingham were also canceled due to rising water levels in the Snohomish city of Stanwood, according to Matkin. Amtrak is offering bus rides to passengers who are affected by the cancellations. There is no timeline for when passenger train rides between Everett and Bellingham will resume.
Customers affected by the cancellations can reschedule their tickets, but will more than likely not be able to receive a refund since Amtrak is offering an alternative mode of transportation, according to Matkin.
To find the latest updates on Amtrak rides, visit Amtrakcascasdes.com.
